PennDOT secretary honored in Reading

Leslie S. Richards, a longtime advocate for the environment, has approached her role as PennDOT secretary with an eye toward conservation.

Richards took over leadership of PennDOT two years ago.

During a fundraising dinner Saturday night at the Abraham Lincoln, 100 N. Fifth St., members of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area recognized her commitment to sustainable development through the private and public sectors.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area extends through Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and includes the Schuylkill River Trail, which eventually will run about 130 miles from Pottsville to Philadelphia.

About 100 people attended the second annual Evening for the Schuylkill River.

Richards, who received her award Saturday, said she believes firmly in the value of projects like the Schuylkill River Trail.

"It's extremely important to consider how people get around if they don't have cars," she said. "My interest has always been in the environment, and that has carried over into my work in transportation, always considering mobility choices and environmental impacts."

Richards recently announced PennDOT Connects, a program that takes a more comprehensive approach to project planning by considering local stakeholder input, including input about bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

Other award winners were John Giannopoulos, managing partner at Sly Fox Brewing Co., Pottstown, and Brian Swisher, Heritage Area volunteer.

The goal is to foster enthusiasm for environmental protection, said Laura Catalano, communications director for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

"We want to give people a chance to get out in nature and connect with the river," she said. "We want them to realize it isn't just something you drive across every day or somewhere to dispose of your trash."